London has synthesised its critique of the EU's approach to the Protocol: it is guilty of a rigid approach to its implementation that is blind to unionist sensitivities.
This week the LCC was listened to again by the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, whose chairman Simon Hoare MP was left speechless when Joel Keys, a 19-year-old member of the delegation, said: "I am not sure if and when violence will be the answer. I am saying that I would not rule it off the table."
"There’s also this new approach of, well, we signed up to what we signed up to, but we didn't really think anyone was going to implement it the way the EU was going to implement it." This gets us back to what the Protocol requires, and what scope the EU has to be as flexible as the UK wants it to be. The UK’s complaint is the extent to which the appropriate rules must apply, especially when it comes to sanitary and phytosanitary controls, the ones that will hit the movement of food going from GB depots to Northern Ireland supermarkets.Technical talks on all these issues have been continuing on an almost daily basis, and they are said to be conducted in a positive spirit. However, it is in the SPS sphere that there is a real problem.
British officials insist there is no evidence that such products have turned up in the Irish Republic or Latvia or France. These are, indeed, onerous rules, and all those legislative acts are contained in an annexe to the Protocol. Europe instead suggests that if the UK wants a sweeping solution to the food issue, one that would take care of up to 90% of Irish Sea checks and controls, then it should align with EU food safety rules.
That would be in the event of a UK-US trade deal, so in the Commission’s view any such alignment could be temporary.David Frost told the House of Lords European Affairs Committee on Tuesday: "It’s been a fundamental issue of principle that we don’t dynamically align with EU rules in this or other areas."
The view in Brussels is that if the UK plans to diverge, with no clarity as to when and by how much, then equivalence will not work. Furthermore, official figures show the volume of agri-food trade between New Zealand and the EU is only 10% of that between GB and Northern Ireland, and the range of products - mainly lamb and dairy subject to further processing - is small compared to GB-NI.
tconnellyRTE If anyone believes for one moment that the British state is not directing their agents at the heart of the LCC to agitate for civil disorder in the North then they are naive. Britian needs a bargaining chip with the EU and has a clear objective to cause friction within the bloc
tconnellyRTE David Frost was in Belfast last week to meet the loyalist killer gangs (UDA, UVF RHC) who have never been on ceasefire, to gain their assurance that they will cause political unrest which he can claim is due to the protocol! How come the protocol doesn't affect nationalists?
tconnellyRTE Of course it has turned into a stand-off - the Brits don't want the protocol settled! A failing of the EU negotiators is to still believe in the goodwill of the Brits!
tconnellyRTE There is rhetoric on both sides (e. g. Tony's final paragraph). Despite this, a well researched and good read, if you ignore his prejudices.
tconnellyRTE Grim reading. Is there no end to the uk’s duplicity
tconnellyRTE Brilliant, as usual, Tony.
tconnellyRTE Elle pèse combien ta grosse criss de voleuse qui fait de l'espionnage industriel au Canada?
tconnellyRTE The UK’s own explainer on the Protocol in October 2019 states that it ensures 'an open border is maintained on the island of Ireland, a key objective for all sides in this negotiation.' NeverNotAtIt
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.